HCHS softball set for 4-A regional play

 RED OAK -- The regular season ended on a down note for the Harlan Community softball team Thursday (June 29) when Red Oak’s Kamryn Buntrock hit a three-run walkoff homer in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Tigers past the Cyclones 8-5 in game two of a doubleheader.
 HCHS settled for a split of the twin bill after winning the first game 5-3 and will now have a week off before hosting Nevada in a first-round regional game Thursday, July 6, at 7:00.
 The Cyclones finished the regular season 12-21 overall and 8-12 in the Hawkeye Ten, placing seventh in the conference standings and one spot behind Red Oak (17-17, 9-11) courtesy of Buntrock’s second three-run homer in her final two at-bats.
 Buntrock’s fifth-inning bomb also busted up a tie (at 2-2) before the Cyclones fought back and tied the game on Kaylie Briggs’ two-out, two-run double in the top of the seventh.
 In game one, HCHS built a 4-0 lead after four and a half innings and was able to hold off a Tiger rally and win 5-3.
 Briggs (2 runs) and Morgan Schaben both went 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI to lead the offensive attack.
 Schaben (4-12) struck out 14 in seven innings to earn the win, allowing three hits, three earned runs and walking three.

Class 4-A, Region 2 Softball Tournament
First Round Pairings • Thursday, July 6
Nevada at Harlan Community, 7:00; Glenwood at Lewis Central, 7:00
Semifinals • Saturday, July 8
Harlan Community or Nevada at #5 Ballard, 7:00 p.m.
Lewis Central or Glenwood at #14 Denison-Schleswig, 7:00 p.m.
Regional Final • Tuesday, July 11
Semifinal Winners play at home field of highest remaining seed, 7:00 p.m.